Klopp fears his star player could miss yet another encounter against Chelsea

Klopp fears his star player could miss yet another encounter against Chelsea

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is concerned about world’s most expensive defender, Virgil van Dijk who sustained a rib injury in the clash against Southampton.

The Dutch midfielder has enjoyed a great spell with the Reds after signing for a world record fee of £75 million in January.

He’s been the pivot to the Reds’ defense after pairing at first with Dejan Lovren last season before solidly pairing with Joe Gomez this season afterwards.

Klopp was without his talisman in defense when they met Chelsea at the Carabao cup on Wednesday which the YNWA side paid dearly for it as the Blues came from behind to eliminate Liverpool form the domestic league cup.

The loophole in the defense emerged while Lovren was paired with Matip, but it is questionable that Klopp would count on them in the next feature against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge as he hopes van Dijk recovers swiftly.

“Virgil is a world-class player, there is no doubt about that, and if you miss a world-class player it is not cool.” Said Klopp.

Liverpool have preserved 100% record in the Premier league which means Chelsea will need to thrust their way into the Reds opposition defense after winding-up Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the season in all competitions.

While Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri will look to set his team to show their high level of superiority as they did in the previous encounter, a lot of changes will be made as both coaches will unarguably use their best teams on Saturday.

Mourinho makes big Salah confession

Former Manchester United boss has lamented his inability to have Egyptian international Mohamed Salah established under him when he was in charge at the Stamford Bridge.

The former United boss had signed Mohamed Salah to the Stamford Bridge but was unable to make good use of him before he left to the Italian Serie A outfit AS Roma and now at the Merseyside club Liverpool.

Last season was one of the best of Mohamed Salah’s football career as he helped the Reds team to reach the Champions League finals in addition to finishing second in the Premier League last season with his goals.

This season alone, Mohamed Salah has not changed as he has now scored a total of 17 goals and handed 8 assists in the 30 games under his belt which makes him one of the best the English League can boast of at the moment.

However, the former Chelsea boss confessed that he was unable to get the best from the player as he wished that Mohamed Salah had given this best under him at the Stamford Bridge.

With his feat and impressive performance, Mohamed Salah now has a release clause of about £150 million in his contract with the Reds which is expected to end in 2023.

Chelsea to release out-of-favour midfielder on loan

There are suggestions that Chelsea out-of-favour midfielder Danny Drinkwater will be leaving the Stamford Bridge this winter transfer window on a loan move.

This is after the former Leicester City star got missing in the Jurgen Klopp’s team without playing time.

It was earlier suggested that the former Premier League champion will be leaving the West London side alongside Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas who is now with the French Ligue 1 outfit Monaco.

Danny Drinkwater who helped the Foxes win the English Premier League title in 2016 immediately joined the West London side only to become a bench player and he is reported to be keen on leaving the club to secure a playing time elsewhere.

Indications are that the Blues are not willing to part ways with the star player which is the reason why they may be forced to give him out on loan with a number of Premier League sides already indicating interest.

Fulham are reported to be in the lead for the recruitment of Danny Drinkwater on a loan deal as they hope to add more strength to their squad through to the end of the season.

In order to make the deal work through, Fulham are reportedly ready to send Timothy Fosu-Mensah back to his parent club Manchester United to create the space for Danny Drinkwater.

So far, Christian Eriksen has got his contract running with the North London side until 2020 but manager Mauricio Pochettino is not ready to force a decision on the player but will rather let him make the decision best for him.

Meanwhile, the Blues are already preparing to part ways with Belgium international Eden Hazard who is on his way to Real Madrid and Christian Eriksen could just be the perfect replacement for him.

Reports claim that the West London side will be ready to break the bank to land Christian Eriksen so as to add more depth to the already existing and robust midfield.

Ligue 1 Star player keeps Liverpool, Chelsea waiting

English Premier League duo Chelsea and Liverpool will have to keep waiting on the decision of French Ligue 1 outfit Lyon star Nabil Fekir as he is yet to give his consent to the reported interest.

The two Premier League sides have shown strong interest in Nabil Fekir with offers already submitted but it is reported that he is on no rush to make a decision on whether to remain with the French side or move ahead.

However, Nabil Fekir made it clear that he is happy at the moment at the French Ligue 1 outfit but hinted that he is opened to securing another experience elsewhere just like every other player will wish for.

The French man, therefore, made it clear that he is currently holding talks with his representatives and family on the matter and has already held talks with the club’s president to know the plans they have got for him.

Meanwhile, Nabil Fekir noted that he is not under any pressure to make whatever decision that regards to his career which would let it public but at the moment he is focused on playing for the French outfit in addition o recording success with the club.

However, he stated that he lost because some of the players in his team seem difficult to motivate as he noted that he had made efforts to do that after their defeat to the other North London side Tottenham but that has not worked yet with the defeat.

Meanwhile, the Blues boss is ready to take a part of the blame because his side failed to show up completely against the Gunners team.

However, the game between both sides have been reduced to three points which leave the race for a top-four finish very open and more competitive especially with United coming from behind.

Unai Emery’s substitutions must improve

Emery’s substitution has left so much to be desired since the start of the season and Saturday wasn’t exempted.

The Spanish manager surprisingly subbed out lively Alexandre Lacazette for Alex Iwobi in the 67th minute, a decision that didn’t go well with the Gunners fans who voiced their displeasure against the ex-Sevilla manager.

Lacazette scored the first goal of the night and he troubled the Blues defence throughout the day, he deserves to full-time action.

Saturday wasn’t Aubameyang’s day as he was quiet all through the night. The Gabonese ought to have been taken off for Iwobi, not Lacazette.

Irrespective of the Result, Arsenal remain in the fifth position with 44 points but they are now three points behind Chelsea in the race for Champions League spot next season

Hazard sends “hold on” message to Real Madrid

It has been established that English Premier League outfit Chelsea superstar Eden Hazard could be on his way to Spanish La Liga outfit Real Madrid.

The Belgium international star Eden Hazard has refused to commit his future to the West London side which places him on the way out of the club.

A number of clubs came knocking for the star player having known his availability but the Bernabeu outfit seem to have won the race with claims that an agreement has already been reached with Eden Hazard.

According to Marca, Los Blancos seek Eden Hazard as a replacement for star player Cristiano Ronaldo who left the club at the end of the season to Italian Serie A outfit Juventus.

However, the latest report hints that the Belgium international is preparing to join the Spanish side but has told Madrid to keep it cool until the end of the season as he needed to concentrate on his game.

However, the West London side are already in search of a replacement for the Belgium international playmaker as they wish to bring in a new playmaker.

Meanwhile, the Blues are desperate to land a striker because of the lack of cutting edge in the team as Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata have run dry of goals.